Real life Book clubs?

[Anonymous]

Are any of you in book clubs in real life? How did you find them? My youngest is nearly 5 and I’m finally starting to feel I might have time for something like this again. I was in a book club I loooooved in grad school but not since then. I am not sure I’m brave enough/popular enough to start one myself.

[Anonymous]

Yes, a group of my friends started one. These are local friends who I met when kids were in elementary school. We meet in person about 8 times a year (we do not meet over summer break or december- all to hard to get a full group).

[Anonymous]

You start it yourself. It’s hard going these days, though. My best friend and I started one 10 years ago, and it’s still pulling teeth to get people to show up. But she and I are always there, and if even one or two other people come; we consider it a quorum.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been involved in book clubs, myself, but I’ve noticed some listed on the library events calendar. If you set a date range and search for book club, you can see if any of the available options are of interest. Other libraries probably have similar programs.

https://mcpl.libnet.info/events?r=today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You start it yourself. It’s hard going these days, though. My best friend and I started one 10 years ago, and it’s still pulling teeth to get people to show up. But she and I are always there, and if even one or two other people come; we consider it a quorum.

I would come! Honestly a small book club (5-6 people) would be ideal.

[Anonymous]

Oh, you should! I've been in several, and while they've all been very different, they've all been good in their own way.

1.) In my late 20s. Started one with a few friends who loved to read. Co-ed. We'd just go to a bar and chat. All very avid readers, different tastes but similar political leanings.

2.) Later 20s. I had moved, and joined one that I saw a flyer for in my neighborhood. It was fine, but I didn't live there long so never truly clicked. Also very good books, good taste. Probably would have worked out if I had lived there longer. Also co-ed, but hardly any men were in it.

3.) Early 30s. I was invited to an existing book club by a friend who was a few years older. I had the youngest kids so it was hard for me to make it sometimes, but when I could go, it was a fun night out. More "Oprah book" style than the others. Different politics. Fun and more feminine, obviously.

4.) Currently. I'm in my mid 40s, and the age range is upper 20s to mid 60s. More ethnically diverse. A random assortment of wonderful women. I got invited through a neighbor. Hard-core readers, some challenging fiction. I can't always go, but it's a good time when I do.

[Anonymous]

I'm in one based around my neighborhood. It started over a decade ago through so by now there are several women who no longer live here but still take part, or friends of women who live here. I'm 41 and the youngest by a decade, most of the women are in the 60-70 age and there is an 80 year old too.

It took me 8 years of living on the street to be invited to participate though. I think the group is very protective of their small number (9). It sort of feels like Fight Club because there are plenty of women in the neighborhood who aren't a part of it and I'm not sure why, so we just don't talk about it. I was only asked when someone moved out of state.

To answer your question about how you find them; my suggestion is that if you are a reader, talk about it. Reading is my main hobby and by talking about the books I was reading and sharing them with people, eventually like-minded people caught on that I would be a good addition to their club and invited me.

[Anonymous]

I found one when someone posted on Nextdoor that they were starting one.
Found another one on a Facebook mom’s group.

[Anonymous]

No, but I'd like to. Don't want to start one, just want to be a member. Maybe I should look at nextdoor, that's a good idea.

[Anonymous]

We have one on our street. While we have other friends attend, I like it most when someone here hosts so I can just walk. It's a nice thing we have about every 5-7 weeks. My only complaint is we chose Sunday evenings, which is sort of a pain getting ready for the week.

[Anonymous]

I’ve started two book clubs and each time was when I moved to a new state. Both places had neighborhoods with a neighborhood list serv so I posted on their to see if anyone was interested. In both instances, the book club started off with a good number of people but then dwindled down to a core group of 4-5, which was actually fine. My most recent book club fizzled up because of COVID but I’m thinking of starting one up again.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes they get started by local bookstores and libraries.

I was in one that was fun at first, but this one woman kept picking downers and I couldn't take it anymore. Like I want to enjoy this thing and talking about Still Alice or Drinking, A Love Story isn't what I want to do during precious free time.

[Anonymous]

I'm in one through my local branch of the DC library. I joined during the pandemic when they were meeting virtually and now we meet in person. It's lovely and a pretty diverse group. I recommend checking with your library either online or in person.

[Anonymous]

I do envy anyone in a good private book club. I have tried 2 different times, once with colleagues in an entertainment industry business, which was a disaster, and a 2nd time with mommies from my kids ES (years ago now) also a disaster.

[Anonymous]

I have been in a book club for about 12 years. Ours is generally made up of women in my school district. Most of us have adult children now, but that was not always the case. We meet once a month except for July and August. We zoomed during the pandemic and had a few meetings outside. We rotate thru members houses for meetings.